216

Chapter 216 — The World Is (1)

Pandemonium watched the rising flare and clicked its spider-leg-thin fingers together.

It was anxious because it had no idea when Wrath would awaken.

[Goddamned Wrath…….]

Of course, Pandemonium itself was not weak right now.

Every demon became stronger by offering something precious as a sacrifice, naturally, but in Pandemonium’s case, the efficiency was beyond comparison with others.

That was even more true now, after pouring in riches worth a fortune beyond reckoning.

At present, Pandemonium could wield several times more power than usual.

And that was not all.

The King’s Seal it had used had not merely transformed this region into a demonic realm.

It had even created a gate connecting this place to their homeland.

That meant the influence of the foreign god had been shut out, allowing Pandemonium to wield its true power freely.

Under ordinary circumstances, there was no reason for it to fear anything.

Under ordinary circumstances.

[Even after pouring in a fortune beyond measure, the only ones I still fear are you and the King.]

Even in perfect condition, with all that enhanced strength in hand, Wrath remained terrifying.

Wrath’s vessel had been impressive enough.

But what Pandemonium feared most was Wrath itself, which would emerge once that vessel was gone.

[Damn it.]

Pandemonium considered the Wrath that would soon awaken and the power it would display, clicking its fingers several more times.

The fact that the thing showed no sign of moving when it should have risen at any moment made Pandemonium even more nervous.

By now, Wrath should have taken control again…

Not yet?

[What a vicious temperament!]

Truly an expert at making someone suffer with anticipation!

Pandemonium clenched its fists but never considered approaching.

If it went closer to check and Wrath happened to awaken at that exact moment, it would be a catastrophe.

Pandemonium had no desire whatsoever to take that gamble.

After all, even Satan refused to give Wrath distance.

Why would Pandemonium?

How many demons had lost their heads instantly simply because they carelessly approached?

And Pandemonium knew exactly what had ultimately caused Gluttony to be killed.

How could it possibly dare close that distance?

[Lord of the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons, what should we do about that? Aren’t we supposed to do something?]

So Pandemonium abandoned any thought of approaching.

After several minutes of silence, the administrator of the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons started making a fuss.

Panicking over a single signal flare.

Truly, the fool was beyond stupid.

As though humans seeing that thing would allow them to do anything.

[Shut up.]

[Yes, sir.]

Ah…

Come to think of it, perhaps this one had always been like that.

The clever ones became troublesome because whenever Pandemonium left its position vacant, they would start coveting the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.

That was why, before coming here, Pandemonium had deliberately chosen a gullible fool as administrator…

Looking at things now, it was hard to tell whether that had really been the right decision.

[And…….]

Well…

At least there was something satisfying about the fact that, even after Pandemonium opened the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons for the first time in several centuries, this fool had not betrayed it and had obediently followed orders.

Pandemonium gave the demon credit for that much while considering the next command.

[You there. Pick that up.]

[Understood.]

This time, the order was directed toward one of the other lesser demons waiting nearby.

[You could tell me to do it…….]

[I thought I told you to shut up.]

[Mmph.]

How valuable was a stupid demon that actually obeyed orders?

Not understanding Pandemonium’s grand intentions, the administrator kept muttering, so Pandemonium smacked it with lava.

The rest of the lava remained stationed all around, ready to react at any moment if Wrath awakened.

[Where should I move this one?]

Meanwhile, the lesser demon promptly grabbed Wrath’s vessel and stood.

The body, still not quite dead, swung limply and loosely.

The complete absence of resistance made it clear the vessel was truly unconscious.

[Wait.]

What was genuinely surprising, however, was that even though the vessel had lost consciousness, the Wrath inside still had not begun rampaging.

Losing consciousness was not so different from losing control.

So no matter how heavily Wrath had been suppressed, once the suppressor vanished, it should have awakened by now…….

[Does a soul need to be at least this powerful to serve as Wrath’s vessel?]

There was no other explanation for this situation unless, until the final possible moment, that soul had continued using everything it possessed to suppress the demon inside.

For the first time, Pandemonium found itself impressed by a human soul.

So much so that it suddenly found itself wishing it really had made that soul-preservation jewel it had joked about earlier.

[What should I do with this…….]

At the same time, it became a dilemma.

Until now, Pandemonium had intended to simply kill the vessel the moment it seemed Wrath was about to take control.

[I’m not particularly fond of leaving something behind only for it to stab me in the back later.]

But if even unconsciousness left Wrath unable to use a shred of power, the situation changed somewhat.

It would be a waste to kill the vessel.

[Is there some problem……?]

[Do I have to cut out your tongue before you shut up?]

[…….]

After all, what happened to the contents when the container died?

They spilled.

Disappeared.

Flew away.

That was especially true if those contents had been suppressed by the vessel.

The instant the host died, Wrath’s soul inside would escape.

Then, as always, it would slip easily from Pandemonium’s grasp and wander the world.

Searching this time for a new vessel capable of containing it.

On the other hand, if Pandemonium consumed the vessel while it was still alive, it could obtain Wrath’s soul as well.

And all the power that soul possessed.

Pandemonium could steal Wrath’s strength.

[The problem is that there’s no guarantee it won’t awaken…….]

The issue was time.

Pandemonium intended to delay the absorption until after killing the Hero—because even if Wrath’s power was not directly incompatible with its own, there was no way devouring someone else’s power for free would be easy. If it consumed Wrath now, fighting the Hero afterward would become difficult.

And the odds of Wrath remaining asleep until then were, frankly…….

No.

Perhaps Wrath was already awake.

Pandemonium remembered another name Wrath had once been known by.

Long ago, Wrath had been called Deception and Trickery.

It was a title of admiration earned when a creature beneath even goblins at the very bottom of the food chain had killed Lust through fraud alone.

And that incident had also marked the beginning of “Wrath.”

If Pandemonium failed to remain wary despite knowing the most famous incident in all of Hell, then Pandemonium would simply be an idiot.

SPLASH.

And Pandemonium absolutely refused to become such a creature.

With a gesture, it sent the lesser demon away, then poured lava over Wrath’s vessel.

The flowing magma melted through the vessel’s clothing and skin, then transformed into spikes that pierced even muscle and bone.

If Wrath had already awakened and was merely waiting for an opportunity, this was something it could never tolerate.

Because Pandemonium had not simply pierced the limbs.

The magma had taken the shape of a sealing formula.

The exact same form the King had once used to seal Wrath’s body.

[Truly not awake?]

If Wrath could endure this, then it was not “Wrath.”

Thinking of the demon that, as its strength grew, had come to embody wrath itself more strongly than deception and trickery, Pandemonium lightly brushed the end of its robe.

[…Well. Fine.]

And it reached a conclusion.

Whether this situation had truly been achieved by the vessel’s soul or was another of Wrath’s deceptions, it did not matter as long as Pandemonium could prepare for both.

[As a merchant, I simply can’t resist a gamble like this.]

All the power Pandemonium had prepared to kill Wrath changed form.

Read only on MUGEX

There was only one goal.

Sealing.

A seal that would imprison Wrath until the moment came to absorb it after killing the Hero!

[Let’s see which of us wins!]

* * *

「I’m so, so sorry… I’ve been truly sorry all this time……. So, so now I’ll finally let you go. Thank you for holding on until now.」

* * *

“Go. The turtle is slow, at least. That Great Demon over there is fast. That side is more urgent.”

“……!”

The Inquisitor had been on the verge of falling into misery over being unable to go help the Demon Knight when Berserk spoke.

Her words reduced the Inquisitor’s guilt and—assuming it was possible—offered the best solution.

“Can you handle it alone?”

“I don’t know.”

Yes.

Assuming it was possible.

But could Berserk truly stop that thing alone?

That colossal beast.

How could someone who did not possess tremendous Mana like the Demon Knight possibly…….

“Conserve your strength.”

“……!”

The Inquisitor instinctively moved to block an approaching attack, only for Berserk to grab her and lower her off the outside of the wall.

Meister was tucked under Berserk’s other arm.

“……!”

This was not the Inquisitor’s first time experiencing such treatment.

So she accepted Berserk’s help without difficulty.

THUD.

With a heavy impact, they landed on the ground some distance from the wall.

“What is the meaning of this……!”

But someone experiencing it for the first time reacted differently.

The sensitive Grandmaster Craftsman stiffened completely at the sudden physical contact, expressing displeasure through the entire body.

THUD—RRRUMBLE.

Then part of the wall collapsed behind them.

At that, Meister could only relax.

After all, if Berserk had not grabbed them and jumped down, both would have suffered severe damage from the turtle’s attack.

Perhaps they would have been crushed between the turtle’s neck and the wall until nothing but blood and flesh remained.

“But I’ll hunt it.”

“…That confidence is impressive.”

Meister expressed a peculiar form of gratitude in the usual sarcastic-sounding tone.

The delivery was like that, but the praise itself was sincere.

In any case, it counted as thanks.

The person willing to approve even someone else’s reckless challenge if it benefited personal research hurried forward.

“That’s enough. Go. I’ll handle this place.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You’re the one who’ll have the harder job.”

Meanwhile, after wavering, the Inquisitor finally made her decision.

Whether Berserk could truly handle the creature was the problem.

But someone had to confront the other threat as well.

There was no real alternative.

Someone had to go there and buy time.

…Even though she had no idea whether this was actually the right choice.

“Over here!”

The Mage and knight who had fled ahead were standing nearby and shouting toward them.

Five horses waited beside them.

Kyaaah!

A Siren that had flown even that far was struck by the knight’s spear and crashed into the ground.

“May God’s blessing be with you.”

“Go.”

Now that they had a way to leave, the Inquisitor’s worries could focus entirely on Berserk, who would remain behind.

She ran after Meister while twisting her body to look back.

Berserk, having set them down, had already turned toward the wall again.

THUD!

The giant turtle continued grinding itself against the wall, apparently trying to break through.

“D-don’t push yourself too far……! If it becomes dangerous, you must retreat!”

“…….”

Was this right?

The Inquisitor hesitated as she looked at the wall cracking wider with every collision and at Berserk’s back, the spear raised without giving an answer.

It felt similar to when she had sent the Demon Knight away alone.

“You have to promise!”

“Go.”

Perhaps it was even worse.

Even the Demon Knight, whom she had trusted, had ultimately fired a rescue flare.

There was no guarantee Berserk would not end up the same way.

“Berserk!”

At that point, the Inquisitor began doubting the decision she had already made.

If that was going to happen—

If that was how it would end—

Would it not be better to stop splitting their forces and help Berserk completely eliminate this beast first?

No.

They had to save the Demon Knight, so rather than this beast…

Rather than this beast…….

“Promise me……!”

Then suddenly, the Inquisitor reached a more fundamental question.

Could she even defeat a demon the Demon Knight himself had failed to eliminate?

Could she truly overcome that overwhelming Demonic Energy?

Perhaps that was the most important question of all.

If she lost too, then this place—

This city—

Would have no hope left.

“…Promise.”

Because the person who would destroy the enemy as long as she held out was no longer available.

There would be no next chance.

For the first time since beginning this journey, the Inquisitor’s body stopped dead.

“What are you doing?!”

At that moment, the Grandmaster Craftsman—whom she sometimes found even more irritating than Slick—grabbed her.

The arm was slender as befitted a Sland, but densely packed with muscle from years of craftsmanship.

It was remarkably strong.

The Inquisitor’s foot slid slightly.

Stronger than she had expected.

“I know you’re worried, but enough already! Stop dragging your feet! It’s irritating!”

The scolding voice was sharp and low.

“You’re not the only one with someone to worry about! Everyone’s holding back because they know hesitating just gets more people killed! Is this your first battlefield!? Get a grip!”

Meister was right.

Yes.

This was a battlefield.

A place where people died no matter what choice was made.

The only difference was whether more died or fewer.

“If you really want to save people, focus on ending this faster!”

The Inquisitor finally closed her mouth.

Maybe it was because Meister was a Mage, but the skill at stabbing directly into nothing but the facts was extraordinary.

Step. Step.

Her legs, half dragged forward at first, regained strength and began moving on their own.

“Go ahead of us!”

“…I’m sorry!”

Before long, they were nearly at the knights.

The knight and Mages, divided between three horses, departed first.

Deathbringer had already mounted the thinner of the two remaining horses.

“You. Get on! Miss Prim-and-Proper takes that one!”

Deathbringer, already seated, reached a hand toward Meister.

Meister glanced at the final horse—which looked obviously exceptional even at a glance—then accepted Deathbringer’s hand.

“Will that be all right?”

“The two of us together weigh about as much as you do alone.”

Was it really fine for two adult men to ride the same horse?

As the Inquisitor wondered about that, Slick answered sharply.

He had a point.

The combined weight of those two was probably about the same as the Inquisitor wearing full armor and carrying her shield.

Prrr.

“…You?”

Naturally, the Inquisitor took the final horse.

Now that she looked at it, it seemed similar to the horse the Demon Knight usually rode.

No.

It was the same horse.

Prrrhhh.

Perhaps because someone other than its owner was trying to mount it, the horse expressed a little displeasure before eventually presenting its back with an air of, Only this once.

A horse a full size larger than ordinary mounts supported her solidly.

“Let’s go!”

Their conversation had been long, but not even ten seconds had passed before all of them mounted.

They lightly kicked the horses’ flanks.

RRRRRUMBLE!

Then came the deafening sound of collapse.

Their heads turned briefly from atop the accelerating horses.

THUD!

The second wall crumbled before their eyes.

It was the result of the giant turtle repeatedly ramming its body into it.

“The wall…….”

And through the gap poured tremendous amounts of saltwater, along with the corpses of mermen that had not yet been swept back out to sea.

The knights groaned at the sight of proud Bemurchen’s wall collapsing.

“Berserk!”

The Inquisitor and Deathbringer, on the other hand, worried about Berserk.

“Crazy woman—look ahead!”

Thanks to Meister’s shout, Deathbringer did no more than worry.

Only the Inquisitor actually turned her head to glimpse Berserk’s situation.

BOOM!

As though disregarding her own life entirely, Berserk stepped across the collapsing fragments of wall and charged straight toward the beast.

Her platinum-blond hair reflected the light of the lamps that had not yet been destroyed.

It looked almost as though the sun itself were rising.